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Bourbon Maple BBQ Chicken Skewers

Bourbon maple BBQ skewers with grilled chicken coated in a glossy, caramelized bourbon-maple glaze. These sweet-savory party food skewers use a quick marinade, frequent basting, and grilling until sticky and 165°F.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
marinating 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 32 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 465
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken skewers with bourbon-maple glaze
  • 2 lb chicken breasts cubed
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce
  • 0.25 cup bourbon
  • 0.25 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 6 wooden skewers soaked

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the bourbon-maple BBQ marinade
  1. In a bowl, mix BBQ sauce, bourbon, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard until smooth.
  2. Reserve 1/4 cup of the mixture for basting and set it aside.
Marinate the chicken
  1. Toss cubed chicken breasts in the remaining marinade until evenly coated.
  2. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 1-4 hours.
Skewer and grill
  1. Thread the marinated chicken onto soaked wooden skewers.
  2. Grill the skewers over medium heat for 5-6 minutes per side, basting frequently with the reserved sauce.
  3. Continue grilling until chicken reaches 165°F and the glaze is sticky and caramelized, about 5-6 minutes more per side if needed.

Notes

For the stickiest glaze, baste during the last few minutes of grilling so the sugars caramelize without burning. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; freeze cooked skewers for up to 2 months (reheat until hot through). For a lower-sugar option, use a reduced-sugar BBQ sauce while keeping the maple and bourbon glaze for the same glossy caramelized finish.